If you are moving house soon, it is likely that you are currently scouring the internet for a reliable removal company to assist you on the big day. Hiring a removal company can make the entire experience far less stressful; from having the assistance of a specialist to correctly pack your belongings to loading heavy items into a van and transporting them to your new location, removalists can ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day of your move.
You may be wondering where to start when it comes to finding a reliable and trusted removal company. Hiring a team of removalists to help you move house may be a daunting thought; after all, not only are you inviting strangers into your home, but you are also trusting them with your belongings. Therefore, it is imperative that you choose a reputable company.
While a simple search on the internet will bring up hundreds of websites claiming to be the best removal company around, you should avoid making any decisions before you speak directly to a company. There are a number of different questions that should be asked before you go with a company to ensure that they can meet your needs and provide you with the best service possible. Below we take a look at some important questions to ask a removal company when looking for removal and moving house quotes.
Do you offer additional removal services such as packing?
It is important to explore all of the moving services that the removal company in question offer. If you do not have any experience with removal companies, you would not be wrong in thinking that a removal company simply loads your belongings into a van and drives your possessions to your new location. This is not, however, the extent of what’s on offer. Many removal companies offer additional services to make your moving experience as easy and stress-free as possible – and making use of these additional options can hugely benefit you.
Ask the removal company in question if they offer packing services. Packing services can save you time, money and ensure that everything is packed correctly to avoid breakages. Sourcing all of the packing materials, such as moving boxes, bubble wrap and tape, can be expensive and add up on top of the cost of your move. Instead, many removal companies will provide packing materials for you and even pack up items for you. This is particularly beneficial if you have fragile items or pieces of art that you are worried about damaging, or larger items, such as a piano, that you don’t know how to pack. Plus, it gives you more time to focus on other areas of your move without stressing about packing everything up.
Do you offer secure storage facilities?
It’s no secret that storage facilities can be extremely useful during house moves; making sure that the removal company in question offers storage facilities in case you need to use them is important. If you need to sell your house before you move, consider packing up any items that are overcrowding or cluttering your home until after the sale is made. Removing items from your home can make rooms look larger and more spacious.
Using storage throughout your move can help simplify the process. Slowly packing up items that you do not need or use everyday and putting them into storage can stagger the process and make your move feel more manageable. When packing, your home can quickly become cluttered with moving boxes; instead, store them away in a secure storage unit in order to keep organised and on top of your home move. Similarly, keeping items in storage means that you do not have to unpack everything at once when you move into your new home. This gives you a chance to clean your new property and work out where pieces of furniture are going to go. Rather than unpacking all in one day, you can unpack over a few weeks to keep things simple.
Are you affiliated or registered with any associations?
In order to ensure that you are choosing a company that is reliable, it is good practice to ask what guidelines the company follows and what associations they are members of. The most prestigious moving company association in the UK is the British Association of Removers (BAR). Check that your chosen removal company is a member of BAR and that they follow the association’s strict code of practice. Choosing a company that is a member of BAR ensures that the service you receive is transparent and to a high standard.
In addition to this, check if the company adheres to the British Association of Removers Alternative Dispute Resolution Scheme. This is independently operated by The Furniture Ombudsman and is an impartial and independent service for the resolution of unresolved disputes between consumers and removal companies.
Are you insured against loss or damage?
Trusting a removals company with your most valuable possessions is a daunting prospect. The removal company is going to be handling all of your prized belongings, so you need to make sure that they have insurance and get clued up on what the insurance does and does not cover. Sometimes, extremely valuable items are not covered – if this is the case, you may want to consider getting these covered separately. Be sure to check whether the cost of insurance is included in the quote or not.
When requesting a removal quote, ask for a copy of their insurance policy. If the company has this in place, they should happily let you look over it. If they are reluctant to show this to you, it may be a warning sign and you should consider taking your business elsewhere. Remember, you are paying them for a service and this service should be completely transparent.
Once you have asked all of the above questions and are happy with the removal quote offered, you should be ready for your big move. There are, however, a few extra questions that you can ask following this to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible on the day:
- What time will you arrive? Although it may seem like an obvious question, ask what time the removalists plan on arriving so that you are completely prepared.
- What is your cancellation policy? Should you need to cancel due to a hold-up in the home buying or selling process, it is worth finding out what the company’s cancellation policy is just in case you need to make any last-minute changes on the day of your move.
- How long should the move take? Ask the removal company how long they predict the entire move will take. This will allow you to better plan your day.
- What are your contact details? Ask the removal company for their contact details, including an office address, a website and a landline number. If you are just offered a mobile number, this could be a warning sign that you are not dealing with a professional company. Plus, getting hold of someone on a mobile number may be difficult on the day.
Arrowpak International: Removal Firm and Storage Solutions
Since 1979, Arrowpak International have been offering removal services across the globe. Whether you’re planning on moving a few doors down or to a brand new corner of the world, our experienced and skilled team have the knowledge and training to ensure that your move goes as smoothly as possible.
Our highly trained team of removalists can provide an experienced packing service and supply you with all of the high-quality packing materials required for your move. We also offer secure storage space to keep your items and possessions safe during your removals process – with 250,000 square feet of secure warehousing at our facilities in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, you can rest easy that your belongings will be safe in our care.
We are proud to be members of the British Association of Removers; our services comply with the Association’s strict code of practice, ensuring that your removal is carried out to the highest standard. We also adhere to the British Association of Removers Alternative Dispute Resolution Scheme.
If you live in East Anglia and are looking for removal services near you, look no further than Arrowpak International. For more information about our services and how we can assist you with your big move, simply get in touch with us today.
